A SET OF FOUR FRENCH ORMOLU AND PATINATED-BRONZE FIVE-LIGHT CANDELABRA
Specified lots (sold and unsold) marked with a fil… Read more
A SET OF FOUR FRENCH ORMOLU AND PATINATED-BRONZE FIVE-LIGHT CANDELABRA

LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Details
A SET OF FOUR FRENCH ORMOLU AND PATINATED-BRONZE FIVE-LIGHT CANDELABRA
LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Each central nozzle surrounded by four branches issuing lotus-cast nozzles, held aloft by a maiden on a serpentine green marble globe, the base stamped 'PARIS/LA CARRIERE/ DELATOUR & CIE' and each with inventory stamp 'P.P.R 473, 474, 475, 476', further stamped '11567' or '11568', drilled for electricity
33 ½ in. (85 cm.) high
Provenance
King Umberto II of Italy, Castello Reale di Racconigi, Turin; and by descent to his daughter,
Principessa Reale Maria Beatrice di Savoia; sold Christie's, London, 22 April 2005, lot 1210.
Special notice
Specified lots (sold and unsold) marked with a filled square not collected from Christie’s by 5.00 pm on the day of the sale will, at our option, be removed to Cadogan Tate. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Cadogan Tate Ltd. All collections will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

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Alexandra Cruden
Alexandra Cruden

Lot Essay

The `PPR’ marks to the underside of the present candelabra almost certainly signify Principe Piedmonte Racconigi or Proprieta Privata Racconigi, suggesting that they were formerly in the private collection of the Italian Royal family at Castello Reale di Racconigi. Located south of Turin, Racconigi was first constructed in the 12th century, and from the early 17th century was a residence of the Savoy family. The palace was retained as a private residence of the Royal House of Savoy throughout the unification of Italy and was presented in 1930 by King Vittorio Emmanuele III to his son, later King Umberto II, following his marriage to Princess Maria-José of Belgium. Racconigi was acquired by the Italian state in the 1970s, carefully conserved and later opened as a state museum in 1980.
The support figure to the present set of candelabra is directly comparable to that on a pair dated to circa 1805, formerly in the possession of the Murat family and today in the collections of the Mobilier National (GMLC 700/1-2, see M-F Dupuy-Baylet, L’heure, le feu, la lumière, Les bronzes du mobilier national 1800-1870, Dijon, 2010, pp. 168-9). It has been suggested that the latter candelabra – with different candle arms to those on the present lot – can be attributed to Jean-André Reiche, a noted bronzier of the Empire period (M.-F. Dupuy-Baylet, L’heure, le feu et la Lumière, Les Bronzes du Mobilier National 1800-1870, Dijon, 2010, pp. 169).

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